May 29, 2002

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The BuzzFlash Mailbag is updated on an ongoing basis, with the newest material and comments on top. Again, we can only post a small percentage of what is sent to us. The opinions expressed in the Mailbag are not necessarily those of BuzzFlash. Thanks again for your email and your patience.

Dear BuzzFlash,

Subj: The Cruelest Irony . . .

MEMORIAL DAY...May 05.2002

George W. Bush observed this Memorial Day on foreign soil, a rarity for an American president. He spoke at the Normandy American Cemetery, home to the graves of 9,387 Americans killed in the war. The cemetery sits near the Normandy beaches on which U.S. troops landed during the June 1944 D-Day invasion. "Our wars have won for us every hour we live in freedom," Bush said. "Our wars have taken from us the men and women we honor today, and every hour of the lifetimes they had hoped to live..." Under clearing skies, Bush flew by helicopter from Paris and attended a service at the Church of Notre Dame de la Paix in nearby Sainte-Mère-Eglise. He was greeted by local dignitaries and then joined French President Jacques Chirac at the service. Today’s struggle against terrorism, Bush said, "will require the sacrifice of our forefathers, but it is a sacrifice I can promise you we’ll make. It is a sacrifice we’ll make for the good of America, for the good of France and for the good of freedom all over the world.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sacrifice indeed Mr. Bush... Would that you should have demonstrated that same fervor and bravado in 1972 during the Vietnam War. Is it not the cruelest of ironies that a person like George W. Bush, who went AWOL and deserted during the Vietnam War when it was his turn to serve, should now, on this hallowed ground, on this special day for veterans, have the opportunity to address us as if he were a comrade in arms. May God bless all you brave men and women who actually served and placed both body and spirit in harms way for the preservation of freedom and our way of Life... May God bless you and may God bless America.

J. Gocht sends...
A true Vietnam Veteran 1962-1966...

Reading all of the excuses the FBI has put forth for failing to connect the dots before 9/11 leaves one question.

Doesn't FBI mean Federal Bureau of INVESTIGATION?

~ Cathy

Today I heard George Bush tell reporters in Moscow that Arafat had "failed his people when he had a chance to lead them to peace..." as a result, said Bush, "...of President Clinton's good work."

The last I remembered, Bill Clinton was being touted by Republicans as the CAUSE of the latest round of violence between Israel and Palestine because he had committed the sin of "wanting peace more than they do." (This party line was maintained religiously even though no one ever explained how it might be possible to arbitrate a peace agreement while wanting peace less than the warring parties.)

Did I miss an attitude adjustment alert?

Sagebrush
Woonsocket, RI

Dear BuzzFlash,

Roll Call: Heard on the Hill
http://www.rollcall.com/pages/columns/hoh/

It's the old Republican hypocrisy of the double-standard at work again. Drudge has the headline of Sheila Jackson Lee having a "chauffeured car" drive her to work, which is a staffer that drives her. I don't recall seeing Drudge run the article about Kay Bailey Hutchison's "chauffeured car" waiting outside her door, with a bagel and a cup of coffee, to drive her to work. Nor the fact that she sent staffers on errands for her to shop, etc.

Gigi

Dear BuzzFlash:

As a loyal BuzzFlash reader, I don't particularly enjoy writing this letter. That said, I was highly offended by your characterization of Texans as yellow-bellied good ol' boys (Texas has third-lowest military registrant rate. Those Good 'Ol Boys Know How to Run and Hide. 5/28).

Though a few Republican chickenhawks might skew the results for the entire state of Texas, the story clearly ties the problem to a lack of awareness and miscommunication, not a lack of patriotism.

Don't let one or two Texans (::coughcoughDubyacough::) give you the wrong impression. A number of our state leaders have served with distinction in the armed services. And Texans are proud of that.

Thank you for your time,

Jim Dallas
Austin, Texas

Dear BuzzFlash,

Subj: Somebody has to ask

It's the only logical next step. No American media have yet been able to touch it, but it' s been reported by reliable sources, including the BBC, and Jane's security news. The US was already telling other nations as early as March that is was going to war in Afghanistan.

http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/jir/jir010315_1_n.shtml

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_1550000/1550366.stm

http://www.indiareacts.com/archivefeatures/nat2.asp?recno=10∓ctg=policy

You folks have the media's ear. Nobody has dared ask Ari Fleischer this yet.

You must ask the question!

-- Peter Sinclair

Dear BuzzFlash,

I have been visiting your site everyday for a long time now. The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is to read your listings and articles. To me you are the real heroes of our democracy. The mainstream news media sure isn't doing its job. Thanks so much for existing and keep up the good work. I've passed along much of the information I've received from you to others so that they too can be informed as to what is and has been happening. Without organizations like you I fear that our country would not have a chance. Thanks again for all that you are doing.

Doug Nash

In the second hour of today's (May 28) "Talk of the Nation" on NPR, a caller mentioned an article in the German magazine "Der Spiegel." Apparently, Bush was talking to the president of Brazil and asked "Oh, do you have blacks too?" and Condoleeza Rice had to break in and explain that "the president was still on a learning curve for Latin America" or something like that. Jesus Christ! Are there blacks in Brazil? And I thought that Latin America was supposed to be Bush's strong point in knowledge of foreign policy! Of course we won't hear about this in the US media, but it would be great if you could splash that one over BuzzFlash! One of the guests on the program responded that she too had read that article, seen the quote, and thought that it was very funny, so the article and quote must be real. I tried briefly to find the article on the Spiegel web site, but didn't put too much effort into it. If you can track that one down, it would be great. Just a suggestion.

Keep up the great work.

Eric Foss
Seattle, WA

[BuzzFlash Note: See the mailbag item below.]

Dear BuzzFlash,

You may have this on your site already. A German co-worker told me last week that she had heard on the German news that Bush had asked Fernando Henrique Cardoso of Brazil, "Do you have blacks, too?" Then I found it being discussed on Democraticunderground.com.

I cut and pasted it for relatives, so can't find DU's URL at the moment. Someone on that site had translated the article.

http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/0,1518,196865,00.html

Translation:

Bush's General Education

Bush: "Are there blacks in Brazil?"

It is said about the US president that before 9-11 he thought that the Taliban was a Bavarian brass band. Now the president of the world's most powerful nation has put his foot in his mouth yet again.

It was Condoleezza Rice, his national security advisor who had to rescue the situation. When talking with Brazilian president Fernando Henrique Cardoso, 71, Bush surprisingly asked: "Do you have blacks too?" Ms. Rice noticed how stunned and surprised Cardoso looked and quickly told Bush that Brazil likely has more blacks than the US and that outside of Africa it was the place with the highest number of blacks.

The Brazilian president remarked later that Bush was "still in a learning-phase" when it came to South America.

Michele Winter

Dear BuzzFlash,

A friend flagged this one for me -- I'll try to find an original source but, in the meantime:

http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0205/28/cf.00.html

"...CARVILLE: Now it's time for a look at those unusual, interesting, and downright shocking stories that you might not find anywhere but in our CROSSFIRE news alert. In case you think we Democrats are too tough on George Bush, I assure you, we usually have good reasons. Listen to this. The German magazine, "Der Spiegel" reports that during last week's European summit, Mr. Bush asked Brazil's president, "Do you have blacks, too?" "Der Spiegel" says National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice had to quickly explain that Brazil probably has a larger black population than the U.S., and perhaps the largest black population outside of Africa.

If the question is open, I want to put up a picture of Pele. He's the man on the right, and perhaps the most famous Brazilian of all time, at one time the most famous human on the planet. He sure looks black to me. Well, maybe he's been in the sun too long. Mr. President, I don't know..."

Liz

Dear BuzzFlash,

Re: Thank you for your order

Thank you. It is a pleasure to help support BuzzFlash, and I am looking forward to reading the book.

An observation, and please forward this if this is not the place to mention it. I couldn't help but notice that when President Bush walked to the podium to deliver his speech this weekend at Normandy, he went up one of the many rows of white crosses, beginning in the background and making his way to the foreground, where the podium and crown were gathered. It struck me as a calculated photo opportunity, not unlike his penchant for having people on risers in back of him when he delivers a speech.

It reeks of Karl Rove, and an attempt to take advantage of the sacrifice of the thousands of brave soldiers who lost their lives.

Sincerely,

Steven D Martin

Dear BuzzFlash,

Subj: Bush and Literacy

Very good, the guy memorizes four words, and he plays like he's intercontinental," he said sarcastically as a bemused Mr. Chirac looked on. "I'm impressed. Que bueno. Now I'm literate in two languages."

If Spanish is one language he's literate in -- what's the other? (No way in hell it's English).

Wayne Sissors

Dear BuzzFlash,

Let's see...Bush/Cheney appointed SEC Chairman Pitt will investigate accounting practices of Haliburton. Cheney appointed VP, Cheney, is former CEO. Boy, I pity Haliburton. I bet they'll be hung out to dry.

Massey Lambard

Dear BuzzFlash,

Subj: "Greens Go After Wellstone"

Now do you guys at BuzzFlash understand why I was so angry with your promotion of Naderite Michael Moore?

All of those who engage in the "help elect the right wing Republicans by supporting spoiler Greens" politics must be attacked relentlessly if there is to be any hope for the future of this country.

Joann Olbrich

Way to go Buzz,

I'm always happy to see comments from Rebecca Knight in the BuzzFlash page and I'm thrilled that she's going to be a more frequent contributor. She speaks with a clarity and decency that shames the right-wing ranting. Her comments are somehow geared direct to my heart (and I suspect many others). Way to go folks!!!

Novella King